Centrifugal casting machine



April 30, 1946. 1 s MORGAN, JR 2,399,446

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE I 1 Filed April 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l GMM/MWA April 30, 1946. s, MORGAN, JR 2,399,446

. CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1946. J. s. MORGAN, .1R

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1944 dnl-m. .5- MupBun,Jn

Patented Apr. 30, 1946v UNITED STATE S PATENTvv OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention'relates to an improved construction for a centrifugal casting machine such as used in casting gun tubes.

It is an important object of this invention to facilitate the manufacture and maintenance of centrifugal casting or other heavy machinery of the type in which a heavy rotor member must be supported for' rotary movement about its own axis.

It is a further abject of this invention to improve the precision with which such machinery may be initially lined up and placed in operation.

Another object is the provision of a construction which permits removal of the rotor member without necessitating extensive disassembly of the rotor supporting structure.

In general, these objects have been accomplished by the provision of self-equalizing, readily accessible, and adjustable bearing members for the axles of the rollers between which the rotor is engaged, and by the provision of a frame work which facilitatesl disassembly.

The axact nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be readily apparent from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partially in section, of one of the main stanchions of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the rotor and rotor trough omitted.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 ls a longitudinal sectional View through one roller assembly.

Fig. 5 is a. partial elevational View showing a modied form of adjusting means.

lReferring to the drawings by characters of reference it will be seen that the portion of the centrifugal casting machine shown herein comprises one of the two or more main stanchions I within which the rotor 2 is intended to be rotated in the conventional manner. The details of the rotor or the method of driving it are not shown herein as they form no part of this invention. The stanchion is preferably provided with two pair of spaced apart lower rollers 3 and at least one upper roller Il. Each pair of lower rollers is journaled b y means to be described in more detail hereafter in an equalizing frame 5, the two frames 6 being rotatably mounted on an equalizing axle l suitably supported by the stanchion. The upper roller 4 is journaled in a top frame 5 in substantially the same manner as S'bridges the upper portion of the stanchion I and is provided with an axle 8 which is journaled in the upper portion of the stanchion and about which the top frame may be rotated when the clamping bolt 9 is released from the opposite upper member of the stanchion. Preferably spring washers IIJ will be engaged between the clamping bolt and the upper frame 5 to resiliently clamp the upper roller in engagement with the rotor. Obviously, when the clamping bolt is released and the upper frame rotated about its pivot axle to a position as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, the upper portion of the machine isclear and the rotor may be readily removed therefrom or repairs made upon the upper roller assembly. Lifting eyes 5a are provided to assist in handling the-top frame and a suitable dust cover may also be provided.

Referring more in detail to Fig. 4 it will be seen that each roller assembly comprises a roller axle II upon which a roller 3 may be shrunk or otherwise fixed, and which is provided at each end with heavy-duty bearings I 2 which may be of the roller or other conventional type, and are conveniently retained on the axle by nuts I3. The outer raceways of the bearings arey received in housings I4 and retained therein by inner housing retainers I5 and outer housing retainers I6 secured to the housing I4 by studs I'I or other convenient means.

The outer circumference I8 :of the housing I4 is eccentric with relation to the roller axle supported therein and anges IS and 20 are provided to limit endwise movement along the eccentric surface. Each housing I4 is rotatably supported on a member (subsequently described) which forms part of the equalizing frame or of the top frame by engagement with suitable bearing memthe lower rollers are supported. The top frame 5 5 bers for thev eccentric surface I8. The flanges 20 on the housing i4 are preferably provided with gear teeth 2l with which an adjusting pinion 22 is in mesh. The adjusting pinion may be conveniently journaled in the bearing cap 23 and will preferably be provided with a hexagonalhead 24 or other convenient means for rotating the pinion. It will ybe obvious that rotation of the pinion will produce rotation of the housing around lthe bearing, and that since the circumference of the housing is eccentric with relation to the shaft supported therein, such rotary movement will produce corresponding displacements of the axis of the roller axle II. In this Way exact alignment of the rollers may be produced without requiring that the portions of the machine supporting same be machined to a degree of tions.

`modified form of adjusting means for the eccentric housing and comprises a block 20 suitably secured to the eccentric housing Il and provided with a pivotally mounted arm 21 connected by an adjustable link 28 to a bracket 29 secured to the top frame (or to a part of the equalizing frame, in the case of lower rollers).

As explained above, the lower roller support for pair of rollers 3. As best shown in Fig. 1, each pair of rollers 3 comprises a roller o n each side of the rotor 2. And as best shown in Fig. 2, the two pair of rollers are positioned an equal distance on each side of a transverse axle 1 secured in suitable brackets provided in the front and rear frame of stanchion i. Each pair of rollers 3 is supported (in a-manner subsequently'described) in an individual equalizing frame 6. The twor equalizing frames 6, see esp. Fig.` 2, are supported for pivotal movement about the transverse axle '1 by two equalizing bars 36, at the front and rear frames of the stanchions, respectively. y,The two equalizing bars 36 are secured at their midpoints to the front and rear end of a long sleeve 31 rotatively mounted on the stationary axle 1. The distal ends of the equalizing bars 36 are articulated, by pins 35, to the midpoint of the front and rear sides', see Fig. 2, of the equalizing frames 6. v

The ends of roller axles li may be journaled in bearings mounted directly on the equalizing frame 6 or they may be journaled in bearings mounted on a cradle member which is itself pivotally mounted on the equalizing frame ,for transverse adjustment about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of rotor 2'. The latter form is shown in the drawings wherein the cradle member is designated generally as 40. As best shown in Fig. 2, cradle member 40 comprises a pair of lever arms 66 integrally united at their midpoints by a hub 45 which is rotatively mounted on a spindle 44 fixed at its lends in the sides of the equalizing frame 6. The two spindles 4d of the' two yequalizi'ng frames S are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis A--A, Fig. 2. The bearings for the roller axle I i are secured to the distal ends of the both pair of lever arm 46 of the cradle 40. I

Guideways are provided to constrain the equalizing frames 6 to a vertical adjustment, in the form of vertical guides 32 projecting inwardly from the front and rear walls of stanchion i between which is slidably received a vertical rib 3| projecting outwardly from the'front and rear of the equalizing frame 6. For this reason the pins S55, by which the equalizing bars 36 are articulated to the equalizing frames 6,` are received in slots 313, see Fig. 3, provided at the distal ends of the equalizing bars 6.

By reason of the pivoting of the pair of equalof the equalizing iframe.V

surgesbf themolten metal within the rotor. By reason of the pivoting o! the pair of rollers in its equalizing frame about the spindle 44 parallel 'tothe longitudinal axis A-.A of the rotor, the pair of rollers will divide the load ofthe rotor at each equalizing frame equally between the two rollers It will be readily apparent that the provisions of the eccentrically adjustable bearing members will permit the parts to be aligned with the utmost precision, and that the use of the pair of equalizing frames will uniformly distribute the very f heavy loads'between the two pair of lower rollers.

the rotor at each of the stanchions comprises two thus preventing overloading of any one bearing and greatly increasing the life of the machine.

Suitable lubrication means 'not shown herein will be provided in the manner readily apparent to thoseA skilled in thel art.

Although this 4invention will find its greatest utility in the field'of centrifugal casting where very heavy rotating molds arev spun at high speeds, it will be apparent that the devices shown herein may be readily applied lto the support of any other type of rotatable member.

I claim:

' 1. In a device for supporting a cylindrical body for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the combination of a stanchion, a spindle disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vcylindrical body and secured at its end in the said stanchion,

- a sleeve rotatively mounted'on the said transverse spindle and provided at eachy end with lever arms extending longitudinally Von opposite sides of the said sleeve, a pair of rectangular frames having transverse sides and longitudinal ends each Vplaced on opposite sides of the said transverse spindle, each frame being articulated at the midizing frames, each supporting a pair of rollers machine thus compensating for dierential expansion of the rotor which might be caused by point of its longitudinal ends to the distal ends of the pair of lever arms extending on that side of the transverse spindle, each frame having a spindle disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body with its ends secured at the midpoint of the said transverse sides of the frame, a sleeve rotatively mounted on each of the said two frame spindles and provided at each end with lever arms extending transversely on opposite sides of the said frame sleeves, a pair of rollers supporting the said cylindrical body for each of the said two frames, and bearings providedg-atthe distal ends of the said transversely extending lever arms, one roller of each pair being rotatively supported between the bearings of the pair of lever arms extending on that side of the frame spindle.

2. In a device for supporting a cylindrical body for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the-combination of a stanchion, a shaft disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and journaled at its end in the said stanchion and provide-d at each end with lever arms extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the said shaft, a pair of rectangular frames having transverse sides and vlongitudinal ends each placed on opposite sides of the said transverse shaft, each frame being articulated at the midpoint of its longitudinal ends to the distal ends of the pair of lever arms extending'on that side of the transverse shaft, each frame having a shaft disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body with its ends journaled at the midpoint of the said transverse sides of the frame and provided at each end with lever arms extending transversely on opposite sides of the said frame shafts, a pair of rollers supporting the said cylindrical body for each of the said two frames,

and bearings provided at the distal endsy of the said transversely extending lever arms, one roller of each pair being rotatively supported between 'the bearings of the pair of lever arms extending on that side of the frame shaft.

3. In a device for supporting a cylindrical body for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the combination of a stanchion, a shaft disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and journaled at its end in the said stanchion and provided at each end with lever arms extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the said shaft, a pair of rectangular frames having transverse sides and longitudinal ends each placed on opposite sides of the said transverse shaft, each frame being articulated at the midpoint of its longitudinal ends to the distal ends of the pair of lever arms extending on that side of the transverse shaft, a pair of rollers supporting the said cylindrical body for each of the said two frames, and bearings provided on the said transverse sides of the said pair of frames for mounting a pair of said rollers each placed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body.

4. The combination according to claim 3 furthe longitudinal axis of the said cylindrical b'ody and on an end of one of said cradles.

8. In a centrifugal casting machine including a rotary mold, a supporting stanchion extending upwardly on' each side of the mold, an equalizing frame rocka-bly supported in the stanchion beneath the axis of the mold, rollers engaging the mold and journaled .at each of the ends of the equalizing frame in equidistant relation to the rockable support, each roller being rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of the mold, a top frame having a hinged joint With the stanchion at one side of the mold, a spring biased connecther provided with a top frame having a hinged connection with the said stanchion at one side of the said rotary body, at least one roller engaging the said cylindrical body and journaled in the top frame for rotation about an axis parallel to the said longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, and spring means associated with the said top frame pressing the said roller against the cylindrical body.

5. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the longitudinal ends of the pair of frames are provided with a vertical rib and the stanchion is provided with vertical guides for the said frame ribs and wherein the distal ends of the said lever arms are provided with slots and the said frames are articulated thereto by pins received in the said slots.

6. In adevice for supporting a cylindrical body for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a housing,

a shaft journaled therein and disposed transversely thereto, arms projecting laterally from the ends of the shaft in opposite directions, a pair of frames pivotally mounted each on opposite sides of the said transverse shaft on said arms, a cradle mounted at its mid-point in each of the said pair of frames for pivotal movement about the said longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body, and a pair of rollers for each of the said pair of cradles, said rollers being mounted at the distal ends of the cradle.

7. In a device for supporting a cylindrical body for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a housing, a shaft journaled therein and disposed transversely thereto, arms projecting laterally from the ends of the shaft in opposite directions, a pair of frames pivotally mounted each on opposite sides of 'the said transverse shaftA on said arms, and a pair of rollers for each of the said pair of frames, cradles pivotally mounted in the frames transversely thereof, each roller of a pair b'eing mounted in its trame on opposite sides of tion between the top frame and the stanchion at the other side of the mold, and at least one roller engaging the mold and journaled in the top frame for rotation about an axis parallel to that of the mold.

9. A rotor mounting for a centrifugal casting machine, comprising a housing, a supporting member pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on the housing and on an axis disposed'k transversely of the axis of a rotor to be supported, said supporting member including a pair 0f spaced, substantially parallel arms disposed parallel to the rotor and to the longitudinal axis of said supporting member, supporting frames pivotally connected to corresponding ends of the said arms and disposed on opposite sides of the pivot of the supporting member, said frames being pivotallyv connected to the ends of the supporting member intermediate of their side edges, an `Hshaped bearing support pivotally mounted in each of said frames on an axis disposed transversely of the axis of the pivot of the frame to the supporting member, shafts journaled in the complementary ends of the H`shaped bearing supports. and rollers xed to the shafts and rotatably mounted within the frames and between said complementary ends of theH-shaped bearing supports and on which the rotor is rotatively supported.

10. A rotor mounting as in claim 9, and means for adjustably positioning the ends of the shafts for angularly adjusting the rotor engaging faces of the rollers.

11. A support for a revolving rotor comprising two pairs of rollers for engaging and rotatably supporting a rotor, said pairs of rollers being spaced from one another in a direction lengthwise of the rotor and the rollers of each pair being spaced from each other in a direction transversely of the rotor, means for mounting the rollers of each pair for oscillating movement relatively to one another on an axis parallel to the axis of the rotor, frames for pivotally supporting said means, supporting means on the ends of which said frames are pivotally mounted at substantially right angles to the pivots of the roller mounting means, and a housing in which said supporting means is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends and on an yaxis transverse to the axis of the rotor for mounting the pairs of rollers for oscillating movement in a plurality of directions relatively to the rotor. said supporting means being disposed beneath the rotor.

v JOHN SHELBY MORGAN, Jn. 

